Duac® Once Daily Gel
Active ingredients: clindamycin 1% w/w (as phosphate) and benzoyl peroxide 5% w/w
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet?
This leaflet answers some common
questions about Duac Once Daily
Gel. It does not contain all the
available information.
It does not take the place of talking to
your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and
risks. Your doctor has weighed the
benefits of you using Duac Once
Daily Gel against the risks he expects
it may have for you.
If you have any concerns about this
medicine, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your
medicine. You may need to read it
again.
What is Duac Once
Daily Gel and what is it
used for?
Duac Once Daily Gel contains
clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide.
Clindamycin is an antibiotic, which
prevents the growth of bacteria
which are involved in acne. Benzoyl
peroxide acts to reduce comedones
(blackheads and whiteheads). It is
also effective at killing the bacteria,
which are involved in acne, and
makes the skin less oily.
Duac Once Daily Gel is used on the
skin to treat acne. It helps to:
• reduce the bacteria or germs,
which are implicated in acne;
• reduce the number of acne spots;
Duac® Once Daily Gel
• reduce the likelihood of new
blackheads and whiteheads from
forming; and
• make your skin less oily.
Your doctor may have prescribed
Duac Once Daily Gel for another
purpose. Ask your doctor if you
have any questions about why
Duac Once Daily Gel has been
prescribed for you.
Duac Once Daily Gel is not
addictive.
Duac Once Daily Gel is only
available with a doctor's prescription.
Before you use Duac
Once Daily Gel
When you must not use it
Do not use Duac Once Daily Gel:
• if you have an allergy to Duac
Once Daily Gel or any of the
ingredients in Duac Once Daily
Gel listed at the end of this
leaflet.
• if you have a known sensitivity
to benzoyl peroxide.
• if the packaging is torn or
shows signs of tampering.
• for more than 2 months, after
the date the pharmacist has
dispensed it to you.
If you use this medicine for more
than 2 months after the date the
pharmacist has dispensed it to
you, it may not work as well.
• if the expiry date (EXP) printed
on the pack has passed.
Published by MIMS/myDr April 2006
If you use this medicine after the
expiry date has passed, it may not
work as well.
If you are not sure whether you
should start taking Duac Once
Daily Gel, contact your doctor.
Before you start to use it
Tell your doctor if:
• you are pregnant or intend to
become pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss the risks
and benefits of using Duac Once
Daily Gel when pregnant.
• you are breast-feeding or
intend to breast-feed.
Your doctor will discuss the risks
and benefits of using Duac Once
Daily Gel when breast-feeding.
Do not apply Duac Once Daily
Gel to the breasts before breast-
feeding.
• you have or have ever had:
- regional enteritis
- ulcerative colitis
- antibiotic associated colitis
If you have not told your doctor
about any of the above, tell him
before you use Duac Once Daily
Gel.
Using other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are using
other creams, ointments or lotions
or taking any other medicine. This
includes any that you buy without
a prescription from a pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
These include:
• medicated or abrasive soaps and
cleansers;
1
• chemical peels; and
• cosmetic products that have a
strong drying effect.
These also include products
containing:
• erythromycin;
• clindamycin;
• benzoyl peroxide;
• tretinoin, isotretinoin or
adapalene;
• salicylic acid; and
• alcohol
These medicines may have a
cumulative irritant effect or affect
how well Duac Once Daily Gel
works. You may need to use different
amounts of your medicine, or you
may need to use different medicines.
Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may
have more information on medicines
to be careful with, or avoid while
using Duac Once Daily Gel.
How to use Duac Once Daily
Gel
It is important to use Duac Once
Daily Gel exactly as your doctor
has told you.
Directions given to you by your
doctor may differ from the
information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the
instructions on the box, tube or
this leaflet, ask your doctor or
pharmacist for help.
Wash the affected area thoroughly
and rinse with warm water.
Lightly pat dry the skin.
Remove make-up thoroughly
before applying the gel. After it has
dried, you can use a non-greasy
make-up.
Duac® Once Daily Gel
How to apply Duac Once Daily If you have trouble remembering
Gel to use your medicine, ask your
pharmacist for some hints.
Duac Once Daily Gel is for
application to the skin only.
If you swallow it
A thin film of gel should be applied
to all of the area of the skin which Immediately telephone your doctor
has acne, not just the individual or Poisons Information Centre (In
spots. As a guide, one fingertip (the Australia 13 11 26; In New
amount of gel squeezed from the tube Zealand 0800 POISON or
0800 764 766), or go to casualty at
which reaches from the tip of your
your nearest hospital if you think
finger to the first joint) is enough to
that you or anyone else may have
cover the face, two and one-half
swallowed Duac Once Daily Gel.
fingertips of gel will cover your face Do this even if there are no signs of
and back. If the gel does not rub into discomfort or poisoning. You may
your skin easily, you are using too need urgent medical attention.
much. Keep this telephone number
handy.
Wash your hands after applying
the gel.
The usual dose for Duac Once
Daily Gel is apply once daily in the
evening. While you are using
Duac Once Daily Gel
How long should you use it for
It may take 4-6 weeks before you see Things you must do
the full effects of Duac Once Daily Tell your doctor(s) who is treating
Gel on your acne. you that you are using Duac Once
Do not use Duac Once Daily Gel Daily Gel.
for longer than your doctor tells If you feel that Duac Once Daily
you. Gel is not helping your condition,
If you use Duac Once Daily Gel less tell your doctor.
often than you should, it may not
Tell your doctor if for any reason,
work as well and your skin problem
you have not used Duac Once Daily
may not improve. Using it more
Gel exactly as prescribed.
often than you should may not
Otherwise, your doctor may think
improve your skin problem any faster
that it was not effective and change
and may cause or increase side
your treatment unnecessarily.
effects.
If you become pregnant while
If you are not sure of how long you
using Duac Once Daily Gel, tell
need to use Duac Once Daily Gel,
your doctor.
talk to your doctor.
If you are breastfeeding while
using Duac Once Daily Gel, tell
If you forget to use it
your doctor.
If it is almost time for your next
application of Duac Once Daily Things you must not do
Gel, skip the application you
missed and apply the gel when you Do not give Duac Once Daily Gel
are next meant to. Otherwise, use it to anyone else, even if they have
as soon as you remember, and then the same symptoms as yours.
go back to using your gel as you
would normally.
Do not apply a double dose to
make up for the dose that you
missed.
Published by MIMS/myDr April 2006 2
Things to be careful of
Keep Duac Once Daily Gel away
from your lips, eyes, mouth and
other mucous membranes. Do not
apply to any irritated areas of your
skin; for example if you have cuts,
grazes, sunburn or eczema.
Be careful not to use too much on
your neck or other sensitive areas
of the skin.
Avoid excessive exposure to
sunlight and other sources of ultra
violet light. Avoid using at high
altitudes or where the ground is
snow-covered.
Duac Once Daily Gel may bleach
hair and coloured fabrics, such as
clothing, towels and bed linen. Be
careful to avoid contact of Duac
Once Daily Gel with hair and
coloured fabrics.
Side effects
Tell your doctor if you do not feel
well while you are using Duac
Once Daily Gel.
Duac Once Daily Gel helps most
people with acne but it may have
unwanted side effects in a few
people.
All medicines can have side effects.
Sometimes they are serious, most of
the time they are not. You may need
medical treatment if you get some of
these side effects.
The gel may cause slight itching
and burning and make your skin
feel warm, especially when it is
first applied. You may also notice
flaking and redness of your skin
during the first few weeks of use.
These effects are normal; if they
bother you, try using the product
less often for a while, or stop for a
few days and start again.
If you suffer severe burning,
peeling or itching, or other effects
not mentioned in this leaflet, you
should stop using Duac Once Daily
Gel and go back to your doctor for
advice.
Duac® Once Daily Gel
After using Duac Once • dimeticone 100
Daily Gel • disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate
• disodium edetate
• glycerol
Storage
• silicon dioxide
Duac Once Daily Gel should be • poloxamer
stored below 25°C for up to 2 • purified water
months. During the summer or in
• sodium hydroxide
parts of Australia or New Zealand,
where room temperature may
exceed 25°C, where convenient Supplier
Duac Once Daily Gel should be
Duac Once Daily Gel is supplied in
refrigerated between uses to ensure
it is stored below 25°C. Do not Australia by:
freeze. Stiefel Laboratories Pty Ltd.
Unit 2, 10 Salisbury Road
Do not leave it in the car, especially Castle Hill NSW 2154
the glovebox, or on windowsills. Do
not store Duac Once Daily Gel or Phone: (02) 9894 5088
any other medicine in the Fax: (02) 9894 5016
bathroom or near a sink.
Heat and dampness can destroy some Toll free Number: 1800 251 075
medicines. Email: StiefelAustralia@stiefel.com
Keep Duac Once Daily Gel where Duac Once Daily Gel is distributed in
young children cannot reach it. New Zealand by:
A locked cupboard at least one and a David Sparks Ltd.
half metres above the ground is a 4 Tolich Place,
good place to store medicines. Henderson, Auckland
PO Box 83-122,
Disposal Edmonton, Auckland
If your doctor tells you to stop Phone: (09) 835 3919
using Duac Once Daily Gel or it
has passed its expiry date, ask your
Australian Registration
pharmacist what to do with any
that is left over. Number:
AUST R 100707
Date of preparation of this
Product Description leaflet:
January 2006
What it looks like
® Registered trademarks of Stiefel
Duac Once Daily Gel is a white to Laboratories Inc.
slightly yellow gel that is available in
a 25 gram tube in a carton.
Ingredients
The active ingredients in Duac Once
Daily Gel are clindamycin 1% w/w
(as phosphate) and benzoyl peroxide
5% w/w.
Duac Once Daily Gel also contains
the following inactive ingredients:
• carbomer 980
Published by MIMS/myDr April 2006 3
Duac® Once Daily Gel Acne Treatment Diary
RATE YOUR ACNE
(No pimples) (A few pimples) (Lots of pimples) Use this diary to keep track of your acne
1 2 3 4 5
No blackhead or 5-15 blackheads More than 15 blackheads
whiteheads and whiteheads and whiteheads, some papules and/or pustules

Week 1 Daily Rate Week 2 Daily Rate Week 3 Daily Rate Week 4 Daily Rate
Use your Use your Use your Use your
(tick) acne (tick) acne (tick) acne (tick) acne
Date: Once (1-5) Date: Once (1-5) Date: Once (1-5) Date: Once (1-5)
Monday Monday Monday Monday
Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday
Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday
Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday
Friday Friday Friday Friday
Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday
Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday

Week 5 Daily Rate Week 6 Daily Rate Week 7 Daily Rate Week 8 Daily Rate Week 9 Daily Rate
Use your Use your Use your Use your Use your
(tick) acne (tick) acne (tick) acne (tick) acne (tick) acne

Date: Once (1-5) Date: Once (1-5) Date: Once (1-5) Date: Once (1-5) Date: Once (1-5)

Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday

Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday

Friday Friday Friday Friday Friday

Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday